By Carmelito Q. Francisco, Correspondent

DAVAO CITY — The hotly-contested province of Davao del Norte has been dominated by candidates under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) headed by reelectionist 1st District Rep. Pantaleon D. Alvarez, defeating the Floirendo-Del Rosario clan under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

Commission on Elections (Comelec) results show Mr. Alvarez won another term, beating outgoing Gov. Antonio Rafael G. del Rosario, while his chief of staff, Edwin I. Jubahib, defeated Mr. del Rosario’s brother Rodolfo Jr.

The cousin of the Del Rosarios, 2nd District Rep. Antonio R. Floirendo, lost his reelection bid to outgoing Vice Gov. Alan R. Dujali.

The Del Rosario brothers conceded before the official proclamation on Tuesday, with both promising continued support the province where their father also served as governor.

“To the whole of Davao del Norte, I am just here. My family is just here that is ready to help you. Remember that all that I did as congressman and as governor, I did it for the people of Davao del Norte,” said the outgoing governor.

Mr. Floirendo, who earlier expressed intent to seek the speakership if he got reelected, also sent a “thank you” to his supporters.

OTHER DAVAO PROVINCES
In Davao del Sur, the Cagas family again dominated the elections with the patriarch, Douglas, getting reelected as governor, his wife Mercedes reelected to the congressional seat and son Marc Douglas IV becoming vice governor.

The mayoralty race in Mati City, Davao Oriental’s capital, is between cousins of the Rabat family — former mayor Michelle Denise N. Rabat, who was leading by 2,181 votes over her cousin, incumbent Mayor Carlo P. Rabat.

The count was based on 87.6% of the results transmitted, and the Board of Canvassers were scheduled to reconvene at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

In the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Occidental, and in Davao City, most of the candidates for the top positions won their reelection bids.

In Compostela Valley, Gov. Jayvee Tyron L. Uy, Vice Gov. Maria Carmen S. Zamora, and 2nd District Rep. Ruwel Peter S. Gonzaga were running unopposed.

In Davao Occidental, Claude P. Bautista, his brother Franklin, and their sister Lorna P. Bandigan were all set to take the posts of governor, vice governor and lone representative to the House of Representatives, respectively.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has been reelected while her brother Sebastian, who was unopposed, will be vice-mayor.

On the reported delay in the transmission of results, Provincial Election Officer Jennifer P. Ancla explained that it was temporary as about 92% of the returns were transmitted as of 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Ms. Ancla said the remaining problem was involved some corrupted secure digital cards that needed to “undergo Comelec protocols.”

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